How To Install Security Camera Wiring

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is: How to install security camera wiring?

If you are not very adept at DIY then installing a security camera can be pretty daunting. Not only are you expected to following (usually pretty poor) installation instructions, but will need to drill holes, run cabling and connect everything up in the correct order.

Obviously every security camera wiring will be totally different, however after reading this guide you will have a fairly good idea on how it should work.

HINT: If you don't want to go through all of the hastle, then a battery powered security camera (usually doorbell cameras such as the Ring Doorbell or GW Camera) just required fixing in place.

Main Things You Will Need To Install Security Camera Wiring

For POE (Power over Ethernet) Security Cameras:

Cat 5 Ethernet cable.

Drill

Electrical Tape

For Wireless Security Cameras (without battery):

Electrical wires.

Drill

Electrical Tape

For Analog Security Cameras

RG-59 BNC connector

RG-59 crimping ​​​​​tool

RG-59 stripping tool

RG-59 coaxial wires

BNC barrel

Wire cutter

Standard wire crimp tool

Electrical tape

How To Install Security Camera Wiring

Even if you are installing an outdoor camera, the chances are you will need to run the wiring through the house. This typically will mean running the wires through walls, ceilings, and hard to reach places. It is very easy to get frustrated, rush and mess the whole thing up.

The first thing you need to do before you even touch a tool is to plan. Spending 15 minutes at this planning stage will save you countless hours. The main consideration is where you are going to place your central hub - consisting of the hard drive, screen and DVR.

Once you have decided on the location for your central hub you need to decide where the cameras are going to be placed.

Next you can plan the most effective route for the wires to run. TIP: It isn't always the shortest route. Typically you will want to run the video and power wires from a single point located near the central hub as shown below:

Once you have planned the best route then you can get down to the actual business end of installing your security camera wiring.

Firstly it would be a good idea to turn off the main power supply at the building. As you are doing to be drilling through walls, you can't be to careful. Once you have drilled your holes then use a straightened metal coat hanger to feel through to make sure that there are no obstructions.

The actual hole should be a little larger than the wires you intend to pass through, just encase you want to add more in the future. Also you should run more wire than is needed so that you have extra for future re-organization.

TIP: Label all of the wires so you know exactly which one needs to go where.

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Running Your Security Camera Wiring

There are typically two ways in which people choose to wire their security camera. The first is running the wires through the attic and attaching the camera to the soffit. The second is running the wires through an exterior wall and attaching the cameras via a conduit.

Option 1

Running your wires through the attic is probably the most popular option - provided you have access of course. We touched on it above, but the first thing you need to do is decide where you are going to place your central hub. Most people have it in a spare room or study. However, some opt to have it in a more secure location or hidden in a closet. If you are looking for the easiest option, then placing it in the attic itself would be ideal.

The image below shows how the setup would look if you were to run the wiring from a room below the attic.

Option 2

The second option is good if you do not have access to the attic. It involves running the wires through the exterior wall and then using a conduit on the exterior of the home to run cables from one camera to another (kinda like a piggy back circuit).

The image below shows how this setup would look.

Once you have run the wired to the correct location then the next step is to actually mount the cameras. As this is just a guide on how to run the wiring we will leave it here for now, but you should check out our full guide on How To Install a Security Camera System. If you are still at the stage where you haven't actually purchased a camera yet then you should check out our Best Security Camera Brand article.

Hopefully after reading this guide you have a little more of an idea on how and what you should be doing when it comes to Installing your Security Camera Wiring. If you need anymore help, or any clarification please comment below and we will try our best to help.